Chapter 33 - Brother, I Am Not Hurt
As Gu Jingrui's reprimands died down, an uncomfortable silence lingered in the hall. The quiet space was filled only with Xiao Li's whimpers.
"Just look at this family. What have we become? The old are unkind; the young are unfilial. Day and night, we fight endlessly. It doesn't feel like home anymore!" Gu Jingrui lectured them once more, resulting in another fit of coughing.
Just then, Gu Yaxi patted Gu Jingrui's back with sympathy, speaking words of consolation next to him.
"Grandpa, please don't be mad. Brother Nanyu only acted so hastily because he was anxious about Xize's injuries."
Gu Jingrui's eyes were on everyone, his gaze filled with great disappointment. However, it was quickly replaced with contentment when his gaze fell on Gu Yaxi.
"Out of all you men, none of you have spared Yaxi from worrying. Get out of my sight, I'm annoyed just looking at you all. Xiao Li will leave after receiving her salary tomorrow." After Gu Jingrui finished talking, he gave a cold grunt and returned to his room.
When Gu Xiang'an looked at Gu Nanyu, it was as if cold daggers were shooting right out of his eyes, stabbing her over and over again.
Xiao Li was sniveling miserably beside Gu Xiang'an, begging him to send her to a hospital.
Gu Nanyu merely stared at her frostily. "Third uncle, come at me all you want. If anything were to happen to Xize again, I can't tell you who or what I will splash hot water onto next."
After that, she left and walked toward Xize's room.
She did not have any intention of hurting anyone. However, if anyone tried to attack her, she would never back down.
If anyone harmed the people she needed to protect, she would have no mercy, no matter the price she would have to pay.
Xize was writing with his left hand on the drawing board when Gu Nanyu entered his room.
"Brother, I'm not hurt."
People always said that autistic children were angels sent from heaven by God.
Looking at the simple phrase constructed from four wobbly words, an urge to cry enveloped Gu Nanyu like a wave.
He could only use his left hand to write since his right was injured.
He did not cry in pain. Instead, he told her that he was fine.
Gu Nanyu enveloped Xize's small body in her arms. At that moment, Gu Dongxue pushed the door open and walked in. When she saw Gu Nanyu and Gu Xize embracing each other, she came over and asked.
"Xize, does it still hurt?"
Gu Xize lifted his head up from Gu Nanyu's embrace and shook his head.
"Thank goodness," Gu Dongxue caressed his hair in relief.
Gu Nanyu did not bother speaking to Gu Dongxue, ignoring her existence. Still, she insisted on pestering her. Unfortunately, she was not in a good mood.
"You only show that you care now. When Xiao Li was spewing nonsense in the hall just now, what were you doing?"
Awkwardness was sketched all over Gu Dongxue's face as she produced a soft reply.
"I was reviewing my homework in my room after I came back from school. The National College Entrance Examination is around the corner and school work is tight, so I wasn't aware of what's happening outside."
Gu Nanyu was at the brink of snapping and was about to hurl some harsh words at her. At that moment, Gu Xize tugged on her hand and raised his head to look at her.
When Gu Nanyu's eyes met with Gu Xize's clear and innocent eyes, she swallowed those words back in.
"Xize, I'll sleep with you tonight, what do you say?" Gu Nanyu disregarded Gu Dongxue.
Gu Xize nodded merrily. Later, Gu Nanyu helped Gu Xize to wash up, completely shunning Gu Dongxue away.
When she saw Gu Nanyu shooting her a cold glare, her hands balled up into fists, but then she loosened her grasp again.
Throughout the night, Gu Xize had trouble sleeping as the scalds were agonizing. In spite of the cool ointment that had been applied, the burned area was still hurting excruciatingly.
However, he did not dare to awaken Gu Nanyu. Thus, he could only lie there quietly.
Gu Nanyu was just the same, as she could not sleep either.